LeBron James is the NBA's new career scoring leader. With a stepback jump shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James pushed his career total to 38,388 points.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 11:13AMLeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 career points to move into the No. 1 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list.Long after he buried a historic 14-foot fadeaway jumper that put him alone atop the NBA's all-time scoring list and celebrated by raising his arms high toward the ceiling of Crypto.com Arena, LeBron James got to relive his immortal moment through his son's eyes.
James entered the game with 38,352 points, needing 36 to overtake Abdul-Jabbar. He finished the night with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Photographers quickly circled James on the court, as chants of "MVP" rained down from the crowd and highlights of James' storied 20-year career played on the videoboard.
"I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind," James told the fans who turned out in droves for the chance to see a once-in-a-generation achievement. "To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem, it's very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to The Captain, please."
"But that's just me because I believe in myself, what I bring to the table, a guy that's been able to transform his game over the course of 20 years, be able to play any position in this league, excel at any position. I can play 1 through 5. I've led the league in assists. I've been able to do whatever it is this game has wanted me to do and also transform my game, as well.
"A lot of people wanted me to go to the skyhook to break the record, or one of the signature dunks,'' James said with a grin. "But the fadeaway is a signature play, as well.'' "I never thought that Kareem's scoring record would be broken by anybody," Johnson, who helped bring James to Los Angeles when he was in the Lakers' front office, said in a message congratulating James. "It means even more to myself that you're wearing that purple and gold, and broke it as a Laker."
"I'm a historian of the game, so I know what guys like Kareem and Wilt and MJ and Magic and Bird, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, the rest -- I could be up here all night talking about some of these greats, the legends," James said Tuesday when asked about the passing of the torch moment with Abdul-Jabbar. "For me, personally, it's just an honor to be named with the greats.
This Lakers season has been up and down, including a 2-10 record to start to the year and a slew of setbacks that have caused Ham to shuffle through 27 different starting lineups -- the most in the league -- but James' sustained excellence led to a parade of praise from contemporaries around the league.
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